Apparatus for cleaning clothes and treating wash liquid



- Nov. 21, 1967 L. M. KAHN 3,353,373

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CLOTHES AND TREATING WASH LIQUID Original FiledMay 4, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l 450 AZ /TZZ NOV. 21, 1967 A KAHN 3,353,378

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CLOTHES AND TREATING WASH LIQUID Original FiledMay 4, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N 5 N 2 N v I v k v v am 6/54 I'\ F/GJ INVEN TOR.

150 M AA/m I BY United States Patent Ofifice 3,353,378 Patented Nov. 21,1967 3,353,378 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CLOTHES AND TREATING WASH LIQUIDLeo M. Kahn, 536 79th St., Brooklyn, NY. 10009 Continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 107,681, May 4, 1961. This application Sept. 14,1965, Ser. No. 494,292 7 Claims. (CI. 68-18) This application is acontinuation of copending application Ser. No. 107,681, filed May 4,1961, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to clothes Washing and more particularlyto apparatus for separating re-usable water or suds from the dirt, lintand other foreign matter contained in water withdrawn from a washingmachine whereby it may be re-used. The invention is particularlyapplicable to commercial laundries but can also be used in conjunctionwith domesticwashers.

According to one aspect of this invention, the dirty water removed froma washing machine is fed to a separating device in which at least thegreater part of the loose dirt, lint and scum are separated from theliquid so that the water, rinse water or soapy water, is re-usable. Thisre-usable water is either fed to a -draw-oif storage tank from which itcan be withdrawn for re-use in the same or a different washing machine,or it may be directly fed back into a washing machine.

In commercial laundries it is usual for the clothes to be washed in aseries of stages. In the first break or soaking stage the main dirtparticles are loosened and after a period of to 10 minutes the washliquid is withdrawn and the machine recharged with soapy water to eifectthe second or washing stage. This lasts for about 10 to minutes afterwhich the washing water is Withdrawn and the clothes are submitted to,for example, three rinsing stages each of about 3 to 5 minutes duration,there being a water change between each rinse. In the rinsing stages thewater may be slightly acidified in order to neutralise any excess alkaliused in the washing stages.

According to one feature of this invention, two or more separating unitsand associated storage tanks are provided, the separated liquid beingfed back into the same or a different machine either in the same or adifierent stage. Thus for example a first or washing separating unit maybe provided for removing dirt from wash water removed from the first orsecond stage of a battery of washing machines, the liquid in thedraw-off storage tank associated with this unit being fed back to thedifferent machines for carrying out the first and second Washing stagestherein. A second or rinse separating unit may be provided for cleaningrinse water discharged from the machines and fed back to the machinesfor further rinsing. Preferably the final rinse is eifected with cleanwater which when discharged or pumped out of a machine after the finalrinse can be discharged into the dirty water storage tank of the rinseseparator to top up for the water lost, for example the water remainingin the clothes. Water from the draw-otf storage tank or tanks of therinse separator may be usedfor topping up the liquid in the Washingseparator circuit. Or the water discharged from the first rinse may befed to the dirty water storage tank of the Wash water separator. Ifnecessary soap may be added during any such transfer to maintain thesoap concentration in the wash Water circuit, and any acidity may beneutralised during the transfer from the rinse circuit to the washcircuit, if this should be necessary. Additional soap may, of course, beadded in the separated water or in the washing machine during a washingstage in order to maintain the required soap concentration for washing.

A further feature of the invention consists in a separating device forseparating the dirt and scum from the re-usable Water which operates bygravity. In this device the dirty water removed from a washing machineis fed to a separating tank in which the heavy dirt falls to the bottomof the tank and the greases, lint and scum (of light material) float tothe surface of the liquid therein, means being provided for drawing offthe re-usable liquid between the precipitated dirt and scum layer. Thedrawn oif liquid is fed either directly into a washing machine or to adraw-off storage tank from which it may be drawn ofi from time to timefor reuse in a washing machine.

A further feature of the invention consists in a separator device whichoperates by centrifugal action. In this device the dirty water from thewashing machine is fed, either'directly or via a storage tank orseparating tank as above described, to a bowl or drum which can berotated, preferably about a substantially vertical axis. The bowl ordrum may conveniently be of cylindrical, part-spherical, conical ordouble conical form. By rotating the bowl at an appropriate speed thedirt Wlll be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force and may be separatedfrom the re-usable liquid, for example by drawing off the clean liquidfrom an inner zone of the rotating bowl or drum. Alternatively the bowlmay be provided with openings or valves through which the dirt may bedischarged to leave only the clean liquid which can be fed to a storagetank for re-use. In the case of a bowl having its maximum diameter atits upper rim, the d1rt may be discharged over the top rim. The speed isadjusted or increased to achieve maximum separation.

Generally speaking the centrifugal type of separator has a largercapacity than the gravity type, and the selection of which type ofseparator is employed at a particular stage of a'washing installationmay depend on the t1rne available before the dirty water fed to aseparator 1s required for use. If desired, a separator unit may compriseboth gravity and centrifugal separation means, the latter being broughtinto use at times when increased capacity 1s required.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, referenceWill now be made to the accompanylng drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view, in section, of a gravity type separator. I

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view, in section, of a centrifugal type ofseparator.

FIGURE 3 is a diagram of one embodiment of a washing installationaccording to the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a diagram of another embodiment of washing installation.

FIGURE 1 shows diagrammatically the construction of a separator unitwhich effects separation by gravity.

The device comprises a separating tank 11. The dirty water pumped from awashing machine is discharged into a dirty Water storage tank 12 fromwhich it can be fed to the separator 11, the clean liquid separated inthe tank being drawn off into a draw-off storage tank 13.

When the dirty liquid is fed into the separator tank 11, the heavy dirt14 falls to the bottom of the tank and the greases, lint and scum 15float to the surface of the liquid. Preferably the base of theseparation tank inclines towards a drain outlet constituted by a chamber16 in which the heavy dirt collects, the bottom of the chamber beingprovided with a valve 17.

The cleaner liquid layer between the scum and the heavy dirt, which isreusable and may contain useful suds, is drawn off through a valve 18 ina draw-off pipe 19 connected to the tank 11 at a level above the dirtprecipitate.

The drain valve 17 may be opened from time to time,

for example daily or at the end of a separation cycle, depending uponthe amount of heavy dirt collecting in the drain chamber 16, in order todischarge the heavy dirt. If desired, means may be provided fordetecting when the dirt precipitate reaches a predetermined high level,the detecting means operating automatic mechanism for opening the valve17. For this purpose an appropriate level detecting device may beprovided, such as light source 20 and photoelectric cell 21, the lightbeam, being projected across the drain chamber 16 (which may betransparent or provided with windows) at the appropriate level and on tothe photocell. When the dirt level rises above the light beam, thephotocell is caused to operate to open the drain valve. Time delay meansmay be provided for automati'cally closing the valve after apredetermined time interval. The drain valve 17 may be associated with asecond valve 20 at the top of the drain chamber 16 which closes when thedrain valve 17 opens, whereby only the contents of the drain chamberwill be discharged through thedrain valve, and turbulence in the tank isavoided.

Scum may be removed from the separator tank 11 by filling the tank to alevel such that the scum rises above the top edge of the tank or above adischarge opening or openings 21' (round, square, elongated or otherdesired shape) at or near the top of the tank. According to amodification a discharge opening (or several openings around the tank)for the scum may be arranged near the bottom of the tank as indicated at22 and be controlled by a valve 23 or the like which is kept closedwhile the cleaner liquid is being drawn off. When the drawing off of thecleaner liquid is stopped with the scum layer above the scum draw-01fopening or openings 22, the scum draw-off valve 23 is opened to draw offthe top layer of liquid including the scum. This may be discharged tothe drain or through a filter device for separating the scum fromliquid, which latter can be returned to the draw-off storage tank 13.

By constructing the valve 18 associated with the drawoff opening 19 (orseries of openings at the same level) as a two-way valve, the samedraw-off opening may be used for both clean liquid and scum. After thecleaner liquid has been drawn off, the valve is changed over to draw offthe scum and to discharge it into the drain or a filter unit.

Means may be provided, actuated by the level of the liquid and/ or thelevel of the underside of the layer of scum and light dirt floating onthe liquid in the tank, in order automatically to close the draw-offvalve 18, or to change it over as above described, when the liquid inthe separator tank 11 has been drawn off to such an extent that there isa risk that the scum and other floating dirt could also be drawn offinto the draw-01f storage tank 13 if the drawing-off were continuedfurther. Or the control means may actuate a signal under such conditionsto warn the operator that the draw-off valve should be manually closed.Such control means is indicated in the drawing as comprising afloat-operated device 24 which actuates a mechanism or switch inaccordance with the liquid level in the separator tank. Other controlmeans may be used, such as a photoelectric device.

In operation,- the separator tank is filled with dirty Water and allowedto stand for a sufiicient time to allow the heavy dirt to precipitateand the scum to rise to the surface. If desired, the liquid may besubmitted to vibration (at stages of time after the admission of thedirty water) to displace the dirt particles and facilitate their sinkingor floating to effect separation. Such vibration may be effected by amechanical vibrator connected to the tank and/orby causing controlled,small and distributed quantities of air bubbles to pass up through theliquid. During separation, if the level of the precipitated dirt risesabove the predetermined level, it is automatically discharged throughthe drain as above described. After the required separation time, theliquid layer containing the cleaner liquid between the dirt precipitateand the scum is drawn 01f through the draw-off pipe 19 at a level abovethe dirt precipitate. when the scum layer approaches the level of thedraw-off pipe 19, the draw-off valve 18 is closed, automatically ormanually, and a fresh supply of dirty water is fed into the tank and theseparation cycle restarts.

If desired, the supply of dirty water into the tank -11 may be continueduntil such time that the scum layer from a previous separation is raisedabove the discharge openings 21' at or near the top of the tank throughwhich this top layer of liquid and scum overflows either into the drainor a filter or filters through which the re-usable liquid passes Whilethe heavy scum remains trapped in the filter.

It will be understood that the gravity separator device described may bemodified in various ways. For example, instead of drawing-01f there-usable liquid through a drawoif pipe by gravity, it may be drawn offby a pump or syphon arrangement.

FIGURE 2 shows a centrifugal type of separator according to theinvention.

The device comprises a bowl 30 mounted for rotation about a shaft 31which may be driven by a vehicle speed motor through the belt drive 32.The bowl comprises an upper chamber 36a of double conical shape whichconnects via a neck portion 20b with a lower conical chamber 300. Thetop of the bowl has a central opening through which extends a pipe 33 bymeans of which dirty liquid can be fed into the bowl. Around the maximumperiphery of the upper chamber 30a are arranged a series of valves 34-and along the upper conical wall of the upper chamber 30a are arranged aplurality of valves 35a, 35b and 350 disposed in annular rows. Aroundthe periphery of the bottom chamber 300 are arranged a row of valves 36.

Surrounding the bowl is a stationary shell 37 which is: divided into anumber of compartments by means of partitions. An annular partition 38is arranged approximately opposite the center of the upper chamber 30aand extends inwardly to adjacent the valve 35a to form an uppercompartment 39 adapted to collect the cleaner water which: will bedischarged through the valves 35. The compart-- ment 39 is provided witha discharge outlet 40 which leads to adraw-off storage tank, such as 13in FIGURE 1. The bottom of the shell 37 extends below the bottom of thebowl and forms an annular tray 41 therearound to collect dirt and liquiddischarged through the valves 36 Dirt and liquid discharged through thevalves 34 enters a compartment defined by an inner shell 42 whichdirects the discharged matter into the tray 41. The tray 41 is providedwith a drain outlet 43.

The valves 34, 35, 36 may be centrifugally operated. For example, theymay be acted on in one direction by a spring and in the oppositedirection by centrifugal force. The valves 35 are normally closed by thespring and opened by centrifugal force whereas the valves 34 and 36Operate in the reverse direction, being opened by springs and closed bycentrifugal force.

The device operates as follows:

With the bowl rotating at a relatively high speed, dirty water isintroduced into the bowl through the pipe 33. It is immediately thrownoutwards by centrifugal force into the bottom chamber 30c, the heavierdirt being thrown out to the periphery of this chamber as shown at 50.As the chamber 30c becomes filled, further water will flow over the neckportion 30b and into the upper chamber 30a. Any dirt which passes upinto this upper chamber will be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force asshown at 51. The inner layer of the hollow cylinder of liquid in theupper chamber will be relatively clean liquid.

By increasing the speed to that at which the valves 35 open, thiscleaner liquid will be thrown out through valves 35 into the uppercompartment 39 of the shell and fed by way of the outlet 40 to thedraw-off storage tank. The separation will be continuous while dirtyliquid is being fed to the bowl.

When such a quantity of dirt is built up in the chambers 30c and 30a aswill be liable to interfere with the separation, the drum speed isreduced. Valves 35 close and when the speed falls to a predetermined lowvalue, the valves 34 and 36 open so that the dirt contained in thechambers 30a and 30c will be centrifugally discharged into the shell andconducted to the drain 43.

The device shown in FIGRE 2 may be operated in other ways. For examplethe valves 34 and 36 may be arranged to open at a predetermined speed,the speed being adjusted or increased until the major part of the loosedirt is separated off. Thereafter the bowl may be slowed down or stoppedand the cleaner liquid drawn off in any convenient manner, for examplethrough a hole in the bottom of the bowl, such as through the bore ofthe driving shaft. With this arrangement the separation isdiscontinuous. Alternatively, the bowl may be spun until the dirt isdischarged and then further spun, if necessary at higher speed, in orderthat the cleaner liquid will be discharged, the dirty and cleanerliquids which are discharged in the two stages being selectivelydirected to the drain (or a filter) and the draw-off storage tankrespectively. If de sired, the bowl speed may be reduced between the twostages.

Instead of using centrifugally operated valves, valves may be employedwhich are mechanically actuated by a member on a stationary part of themachine co-operating, for example, through a ring, with a valveactuating member on the bowl. In another embodiment the valve membersmay be solenoid-controlled. The valve members may be interlocked withthe means controlling the motor speed.

In the case of an upwardly tapering bowl, two rows of openings may beprovided one above the other, the speed being adjusted to throw the dirtout of the lower row of holes. When the dirt has been discharged, thespeed may be increased to throw the clean liquid out of both rows ofholes, or if desired only out of the upper row if the lower holes areclosed by a valve member, for example as described above.

In another embodiment thebowl may be closed at its top except for acentral opening through which enters a pipe for supplying the liquid tobe cleaned. The liquid is directed, or the bowl may incorporatedeflectors, so that the spinning bowl will throw the liquidcentrifugally outwards to provide a hollow central passage therethrough.The dirt is thrown outwardly towards the maximum diameter of the bowl,the inner layer of liquid being cleaner. The shaft driving the bowl ismade hollow and preferably somewhat larger in diameter than the hole inthe top of the bowl. With this separator the liquid to be cleaned may befed continuously to the bowl, the heavy dirt and scum beingthrowncentrifugally outwards and the inner cleaner layer of liquid being drawnoff through the hollow shaft. The bowl may be provided with valvecontrolled discharge outlets, the valves being centrifugally actuated sothat, after a quantity of dirt has collected in the bowl, its speed maybe increased to open the valves and discharge the dirt. The speed isthen reduced until the valves close. The valves may alternatively bemechanically or electrically actuate-d as above described.

If the bowl is made of upwardly tapering form the discharge openings maybe provided near the top of the drum and thespeed may be adjusted sothat no liquid or dirt is discharged through these holes even thoughliquid is continuously fed to the bowl and clean liquid is withdrawnthrough a hollow driving shaft at the bottom of the bowl. When the dirtis to be discharged the speed is increased to raise the dirt layer todischarge the dirt through the discharge opening.

Both kinds of separator, namely gravity and centrifugal, may becombined, the gravity form with its controls, which requiressubstantially no power for its operation being used normally and thecentrifugal separator being brought into use in the event of additionalcleaned water being required to meet a particular demand. Thecentrifugal separator may use the gravity separation tank for collectingthe dirty and/or cleaned liquid thrown out of the bowl. For this purposethe bowl may be moved into a position within the separator tank and maybe filled either from a separate pipe discharging dirty water from themachine or storage tank, or by immersing the bowl in the dirty waterwith which the separator tank is filled. The bowl may be raised from theliquids before spinning, or the tank may be emptied before the bowl isspun. Two or more bowls may be arranged one above the other on a commonshaft and more than one driven shaft, each carrying one or more bowls,may be positioned in a tank.

When using a spinning bowl it is desirable to incorporate paddles, finsor the like to reduce slippage between the bowl and the water to ensurethat the liquid will spin with the bowl. The paddles may be provided onthe in-' terior of the bowl and/or on a central rotating shaft.

In another modification, instead of rotating the how] it is sufficientto cause the water to spin by means of ro tating paddles, fins or thelike within the bowl, the bowl itself remaining stationary.

In order to collect the dirt and direct it out through the dischargeopening or openings in the bowl, there may be associated with thedischarge apertures deflector plates or members, disposed around thetrailing edges of the apertures relative to the direction of waterrotation whereby the dirt spinning in the bowl, will be collected bythese deflectors and guided into the discharge apertures. The deflectorsmay be curved to assist collecting the dirt. A deflector ridge may beprovided around the bowl above a row of holes to trap the dirt anddeflect it through discharge openings. Other holes may be provided abovethe ridge for discharge of cleaner liquid.

According to another embodiment of the invention, use is made of thefact that when the spinning water is suddenly slowed down or stopped,the heavy dirt swirls around the center of the bottom of the bowl andcollects in the center thereof. The dirt may then be extracted throughthe bottom of the bowl (which may be coned or shaped to collect thedirt) and the cleaner liquid can be withdrawn after the dirt has beenextracted or through apertures above the level of the dirt layer. Thisembodiment of the invention may be combined with the gravity separationtank by incorporating therein a rotating shaft of non-circular form, orcarrying paddles or fins, in order to spin the dirty liquid in theseparation tank to concentrate the heavy dirt on the bottom of the tankby the swirling motion when the shaft is stopped.

With such a spinning arrangement, the light dirt, lint and scum alsoswirls around the center of rotation at the top of the liquid, whenrotation is stopped and can be separated off.

In another modification separation of the heavy dirt and the light dirtor scum may be effected in separate separators. Thus the light dirt andscum may be separated by flotation in a tank, and the heavy dirtseparated in a centrifugal separator or by a swirling action separator.For example, the light dirt and scum may be separated off in the dirtywater storage tank to which the diity water is fed from the washingmachine, the water containing the heavy dirt being fed from the bottomof the storage tank to a centrifugal separator, the scum remaining inthe storage tank and being cleaned off periodically or from time to timein any of the manners above described.

Any scum remaining in the liquid after centrifugal separation will floatto the surface of the liquid in the draw-off storage tank for cleanedliquid from which liquid is drawn off to refill the machines, the scumremaining in the draw-off storage tank being cleared out periodically orfrom time to time.

The invention not only results in a saving of soap but also of water,including hot water, thereby resulting in a saving of fuel required forheating the washing water. The only water which is lost need be thatwhich is absorbed in the clothes after the final rinse. This issubstantially clean water, and after removal from the clothes in theextractor, can be re-used in the washing and/or rinsing circuits.

The invention thus also provides a novel washing sys tem which effectssaving of water, soap and fuel, The amount of water consumed is only theamount of clean water required in the final rinse or the final rinses.Thus, for example, in a commercial laundry in which the clothes aresubmitted to two washing stages and five rinsing stages it is generallyconceded that 350 gallons of water are required to wash 100 lbs ofclothes. By means of the invention this can be reduced to about lessthan 100 gallons.

This will be explained with reference to FIGURE 3 which shows the mannerin which the water will be circulated in a washing cycle. The washingstages are indicated by W1, W2 and the five rinsing stages by Rl-RSrespectively. It will be understood that the circles indicated by thereference W1, W2 and Rl-RS are not separate machines but constitutevarious washing and rinsing stages of a single machine, and that themachine will be piped through multi-way valves (not shown) so that theycan be supplied with cleaned water from the various storage tanks andcan discharge the dirty liquid from each stage to the appropriatestorage tank.

In a 100 lb. washing machine, each of the two final rinses R5, R4requires about 70 gallons of water of which 26 gallons will be carriedover in the clothes so that 44 gallons of clean water would have to besupplied to each of the 4th and th rinses, thus requiring an amount of88 gallons of water. Water pumped out after these rinses will beclarified in No. 1 separator as above described and will be fed tostorage tank No. 1. This water will then be used for rinses R2, R3 eachof which will again take 44 gallons of water, the discharge from eachrinse being cleaned in separator No. 2 and then to storage tank No. 2.Half of the water in storage tank No. 2 will be used in the first rinseR1 and the water recovered and clarified from the first rinse will befed to No. 3 separator and storage tank, from which it will be used inthe first and second washes W1, W2. Appr0ximately 60 gallons of waterwill be required for the first wash, where the clothes are dry, and 14gallons for the second wash W2 so that if there has been negligible losson recovery there will be an excess in storage tank No. 3 which can beoverflowed to waste. If desired, a proportion of water in storage tankNo. 2 can be used in a boiling stage and after recovery andclarification fed to storage tank No. 3.

FIGURE 4 shows another circulation diagram with two washes W1, W2 andfour rinses RlR4. Clean water is used in the final rinse R4 and afterrecovery and clarification is fed to storage tank No. 1 from which itcan be fed to the machine for effecting rinses R3 and R2, beingrecovered, clarified and returned after each rinse to storage tankNo. 1. The water in storage tank No. 1 is then used for the first rinseR1 from which it is discharged to an intermediate storage tank No. 1A,The water from the first rinse R1 contains a relatively high proportionof alkali and as this is fed back to a separate storage tank No. 1A, thealkali does not contaminate the water in storage tank No. 1 which isused for the second and third (or any desired number of) intermediaterinses. Storage tank No. 2 serves for spplying water for the first andsecond washes W1 and W2 thereby conserving alkali and suds. Water fromstorage tank No. 1A may be used for topping up storage tank No. 2. ltisnot essential that storage tank No. 1A should have its own individualseparator. It need merely be a storage tank for dirty water from thefirst rinse R1 which can be cleaned in the separator associated withstorage tank No. 2.

For smaller washing machines, for example of lbs. capacity anndrequiring only about 8 gallons of water Cir in the machine, theinstallation can be simplified and may require only one or twoseparators and storage tanks of about 8 gallons capacity. Normally about40 gallons of water is required to effect the washing and rinsing. Evenif by simplifying the installation some of the water used has to beoverflowed to the drain, considerable saving can be eifected. A heatermay be associated with the draw-off tank to heat the water before it isfed to the washing machine,

By means of the invention it is possible to re-use the fluids both fromthe washing and rinsin stages, these fluids being cleaned immediatelyafter use and stored in separate draw-off storage tanks, from which theliquid can be fed through appropriate control valves to the machines asrequired for re-use. The liquids may be circulated by pumping 'and/ orgravity.

While the invention has been described in connection with washingmachines using water, it can also be used in conjunction with drycleaning apparatus, the separators being used to separate the dirt andother foreign matter, thus enabling the cleaning fluid to be re-usedseveral times before filtering or distilling is necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for washing clothes, by several washing and rinsingstages, the combination of a washing machine and a plurality ofseparating units for separating dirt from the water used for washing andrinsing, means for filling a washing machine with clean water for thelast rinsing stage, means for passing dirty water from the last rinsingstage to a first separator unit, means for passing the cleaned Waterfrom said first separator unit to a washing machine for a previousrising stage, means for passing the dirty water from a previous rinsingstage to a second separator unit, and means for passing the cleanedwater from said second separator unit to a washing machine for a washingstage, each of said separator units having storage means for storingcleaned water prior to passing the cleaned water to a washing machineand a bowl mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis at aspeed which can be varied, the said bowl being shaped to form a chamberhaving at least one wall part inclined inwardly from its outerperiphery, and having a plurality of first valves arranged around themaximum periphery of the chamber and a plurality of second valvesarranged around said inclined wall and inwardly of the maximumperiphery, the said first valves being normally opened and being closedby centrifugal force and said second valvps being normally closed andopened by centrifugal force exceeding that at which said first valvesare closed, and means for selectively collecting the liquid dischargedthrough said first and second valves respectively.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bowl is shaped with anupper chamber defined by upper and lower walls inclined towards oneanother in the radially outwards direction, the lower end of said upperchamber connecting by a neck portion with a lower chamber of radialdimensions greater than said neck portion and having at least its upperwall inclined downwardly in the radially outwards direction.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a plurality of furthervalves are arranged around the periphery of said lower chamber, saidfurther valves being normally open and being closed by centrifugalforce.

4. An apparatus for washing clothes, by several washing and rinsingstages, the combination of a washing machine and a plurality ofseparating units for separating dirt from the water used for washing andrinsing, means for filling a washing machine with clean water for thelast rinsing stage, means for passing dirty water from the last rinsingstage to a first separator unit, means for passing the cleaned waterfrom said first separator unit to a washing machine for a previousrinsing stage, means for passing the dirty water from a previous rinsingstage to a second separator unit, and means for passing the cleanedwater from said second separator unit to a washing machine for a washingstage, each of said separator units having storage means for storingcleaned water prior to passing the cleaned water to a washing machineand a separating tank having 1) a drain sump in the bottom thereof inwhich heavy dirt collects by gravitation, (2) a drain outlet valve fordischarging said dirt, (3) a liquid draW-ofi valve connecting with theseparating tank at a position near the bottom thereof and above thelevel of the sump through which cleaned liquid may be drawn oif, and (4)a valve between the separating tank and the sump connected with thedrain outlet valve for simultaneous operation so that the opening of oneof said valves closes the other valve and vice versa.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein means are provided fordetecting the level of dirt and in said sump, the operation of saiddetecting means upon the dirt reaching a predetermined level above saiddrain outlet valve actuating a signal and/or opening the drain outletvalve.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including a device responsive to thelevel of the liquid in the tank which actuates a signal and/ or closessaid draw-01f valve when the liquid level falls close to the level ofsaid draw-off valve.

7. An apparatus for washing clothes, by several washing and rinsingstages, the combination of a washing machine and a plurality ofseparating units for separating dirt from the Water used for Washing andrinsing, means for filling a washing machine with clean water for thelast rinsing stage, means for passing dirty water from the last rinsingstage to a first separator unit, means for passing the cleaned waterfrom said first separator unit to a washing machine for a previousrinsing stage, means for passing the dirty water from a previous rinsingstage to a second separator unit, and means for passing the cleanedwater from said second separator unit to a washing machine for a washingstage, each of said separator units having storage means for storingcleaned water prior to passing the cleaned water to a washing machineand a separating tank having (1) a drain sump in the bottom thereof inwhich heavy dirt collects by gravitation, (2) a drain outlet valve fordischarging said dirt, (3) a liquid draw-0E valve connecting with theseparating tank at a position near the bottom thereof and above thelevel of the sump through which cleaned liquid may be drawn oif, and (4)a second draw-0E valve connecting the separating tank at a level abovesaid first draw-off valve and adapted, when opened, to draw-ofit' thescum layer on the liquid in the tank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 782,065 2/1905 Shaler 210-5132,130,817 9/1938 Shaw 68--18 X 2,263,095 11/ 1941 Lieberman 233-20 X2,630,694 3/1953 Creswick 68--18 3,192,155 6/1965 Bready et al 6818 XFOREIGN PATENTS 426,019 3/1935 Great Britain.

513,237 10/1937 Great Britain.

WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES, BY SEVERAL WASHING AND RINSINGSTAGES, THE COMBINATION OF A WASHING MACHINE AND A PLURALITY OFSEPARATING UNITS FOR SEPARATING DIRT FROM THE WATER USED FOR WASHING ANDRINSING, MEANS FOR FILLING A WASHING MACHINE WITH CLEAN WATER FOR THELAST RINSING STAGE, MEANS FOR PASSING DIRTY WATER FROM THE LAST RINSINGSTAGE TO A FIRST SEPARATOR UNIT, MEANS FOR PASSING THE CLEANED WATERFROM SAID FIRST SEPARATOR UNIT TO A WASHING MACHINE FOR A PREVIOUSRISING STAGE, MEANS FOR PASSING THE DIRTY WATER FROM A PREVIOUS RINSINGSTAGE TO A SECOND SEPARATOR UNIT, AND MEANS FOR PASSING THE CLEANEDWATER FROM SAID SECOND SEPARATOR UNIT TO A WASHING MACHINE FOR A WASHINGSTAGE, EACH OF SAID SEPARATOR UNITS HAVING STORAGE MEANS FOR STORINGCLEANED WATER PRIOR TO PASSING THE CLEANED WATER TO A WASHING MACHINEAND A BOWL MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS AT ASPEED WHICH CAN BE VARIED, THE SAID BOWL BEING SHAPED TO FORM A CHAMBERHAVING AT LEAST ONE WALL PART INCLINED INWARDLY FROM ITS OUTERPERIPHERY, AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF FIRST VALVES ARRANGED AROUND THEMAXIMUM PERIPHERY OF THE CHAMBER AND A PLURALITY OF SECOND VALVESARRANGED AROUND SAID INCLINED WALL AND INWARDLY OF THE MAXIMUMPERIPHERY, THE SAID FIRST VALVES BEING NORMALLY OPENED AND BEINGNORMALLY CLOSED AND OPENED BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCE EXCEEDING THAT AT WHICHSAID FIRST VALVES ARE CLOSED, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY COLLECTING THELIQUID DISCHARGED THROUGH SAID FIRST AND SECOND VALVES RESPECTIVELY.